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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	church_n	elder_n	rule_n	1,073	5	8.7292	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A55001	A Platform of church discipline gathered out of the Word of God, and agreed upon by the elders, and messengers of the Churches, assembled in the Synod at Cambridge in New England, to be presented to the churches and Generall Court for their consideration and acceptance in the Lord, the eighth moneth, anno 1649.	Mather, Richard, 1596-1669.	1649 (1649)	Wing P2396; ESTC W2574	37,140	44

church IIX To feed the flock of God with a word of admonition IX And as they shall be sent for to visit to pray over their sick brethren X at other times as opportunity shall serve therunto 3 The office of a Deacon is Instituted in the church by the Lord Jesus somtime they are called Helps The Scripture telleth us how they should be qualified Grave not double tougued not given to much wine not given to filthy lucre they must first be proved then use the office of a Deacon being found Blameless The office and work of the Deacons is to receive the offrings of the church gifts given to the church to keep the treasury of the church therewith to serve the Tables which the church is to provide for as the Lords Table the table of the ministers of such as are in necessitie to whom they are to distribute in simplicity 4 The office therefore being limited unto the care of the temporall good things of the church it extends not unto the attendance upon administration of the spirituall things thereof as the word and Sacraments or the like 5 The ordinance of the Apostle practice of the church commends the Lords day as a fit time for the contributions of the Saints 6 The Instituting of all these officers in the Church is the work of God himselfe of the Lord Iesus Christ of the holy Ghost therefore such officers 〈◊〉 he hath not appointed are altogether unlawfull either to be placed in the church or to be retained therin are to be looked at as humane creatures meer Inventions appointments of man to the great dishonour of Christ Jesus the Lord of his house the King of his church whether Popes Patriarkes Cardinals Arch-bishops Lord 〈◊〉 Arch-●…eacons Officials Commissaries the like These the rest of that Hierarchy Retinue not being plants of the Lords planting shall all be certeinly be rooted out cast forth 7 The Lord hath appointed ancient widdows where they may be had to minister in the church in giving attendance to the sick to give succour unto them others in the like necessities CHAP IIX Of the Electon of Church-Officers NO man may take the honour of a Church-Officer unto himself but he that was called of God as was Aaron 2 Calling unto office is either Immediate by Christ himself such was the call of the Apostles Prophets this manner of calling ended with them as hath been said or Mediate by the church 3 It is meet that before any be ordained or chosen officers they should first be 〈◊〉 prove●… because hands are n●…t suddenly to be laid upon any both Elders Deacons must be of honest good repo●…t 4 The things in respect of which they are to be Tryed are those gif●…s virtues which the Scripture requireth in men that are to be elected into such places viz that Elders must be blameles●… sober apt to teach endued with such other qualifications as are layd downe 1 Tim: 3 2. T●…t 1. 6 to 9. Deacons to be fitted as is directed Acts. 6 3. 1 Tim: 3. 8 to 11. 5 Officers are to be called by such Churches whereunto they are to min●…ster of such moment is the preservation of this power that the churches excercised it in the presence of the Apostles 6 A Church being free cannot become subject to any but by a free election Yet when such a people do chuse any to be over them in the Lord then do they becom●… subject most willingly submit to their ministry in the Lord whom they have so chosen 7 And if the church have powr to chuse their officers ministers then in case of manifest unworthyness delinquency they have powr also to depose them For to open shut to chuse refuse to constitute in office remove from office are acts belonging unto the same powr 8 Wee judge it much conducing to the wel-being communion of churches that where it may conveniently be done neighbour-churches be adv●…sed withall their help made use of in the triall of church-officers in order to their choyce 9 The choyce of such Church-officers belongeth not to the civil-magistrates as such or diocesan-bishops or patrones for of these or any such like the Scripture is wholly silent as having any power therin CHAP IX Of Ordination Imposition of hands CHurch-officers are not only to be chosen by the Church but also to be ordeyned by Imposition of hands prayer with which at the ordination of Elders fasting also is to be joyned 2 This ordination wee account nothing else but the solemn putting of a man into his place office in the Church wher-unto he had right before by election being like the installing of a magistrat in the common wealth Ordination therefore is not to go before but to follow election the essence substance of the outward calling of an ordinary officer in the Church doth not consist in his ordination but in his voluntary free election by the Church in his accepting of that election wher-upon is founded the relation between Pastor flock between such a minister such a people Ordination doth not constitute an officer nor give him the essentials of his office The Apostles were elders without Imposition of hands by men Paul Barnabas were officers before that Imposition of hands Acts. 13. 3. The posterity of Levi were Priests the Church that had powr to receive him into their fellowship hath also the same powr to cast him out that they have concerning any other member 7 Church-government or Rule is placed by Christ in the officers of the church who are therefore called Rulers while they rule with God yet in case of mal-administration they are subject to the power of the church according as hath been said before the Holy Ghost frequently yea alwayes where it mentioneth church-Church-Rule church-government ascribeth it to Elders wheras the work duty of the people is expressed in the phrase of obeying their Elders submiting themselves unto them in the Lord so as it is manifest that an organick or compleat church is a body politick consisting of some that are Governors some that are governed in the Lord 8 The powr which Christ hath committed to the Elders is to feed rule the church of God accordingly to call the church together upon any weighty occasion when the members so called without just cause may not refuse to come nor when they are come depart before they are dismissed nor speak in the church before they have leave from the elders nor continue so doing when they require silence nor may they oppose nor contradict the judgment or sentence of the Elders without sufficient weighty cause becaus such practices are manifestly contrary unto

order government in-lets of disturbance tend to confusion 9 It belongs also unto the Elders to examine any officers or members before they be received of the church to receive the accusations brought to the Church to prepare them for the churches hearing In handling of offences other matters before the Church they have powr to declare publish the Counsell will of God touching the same to pronounce sentence with consent of the Church Lastly they have powr when they dismiss the people to bless them in the name of the Lord 10 This powr of Government in the Elders doth not any wise prejudice the powr of priviledg in the brotherhood as neither the powr of priviledg in the brethren doth prejudice the power of government in the Elders but they may sweetly agree together as wee may see in the example of the Apostles furnished with the greatest church-powr who took in the concurrence consent of the brethren in church-administrations Also that Scripture 2 Cor 2. 9. chap 10 6. doe declare that what the churches were to act doe in these matters they were to doe in a way of obedience that not only to the direction of the Apostles but also of their ordinary Elders 11 From the premisses namely that the ordinary powr of Government belonging only to the elders powr of priviledg remaineth with the brotherhood as powr of judgment in masters of censure powr of liberty in matters of liberty It followeth that in an organick Church right administration all church acts proceed after the manner of a mixt administration so as no church act can be consummated or perfected without the consent of both CHAP XI Of the maintenance of Church Officers THe Apostle concludes that necessary sufficient maintenance is due unto the ministers of the word from the law of nature nations from the law of Moses the equity thereof as also the rule of common reason moreover the scripture doth not only call Elders labourers workmen but also speaking o●… them doth say that the labourer is worthy of his hire requires that he which is taught in the word should communicate to him in all good things mentions it as an ordinance of the Lord that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel forbideth the muzl●…ng of the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn 2 The Scriptures alledged requiring this maintenance as a bounden duty du●…●…eci not as a matter of almes free gift therefore people are not at liberty to doe or not to doe what when they pleas in this matter no more then in any other commanded duty ordinance of the Lord but ought of duty to minister of their ca●…ail ●…ngs to them that labour amongst them in the word doctrine as well as they ought to pay any other work men their wages or to discharge satisfie their other debts or to submit themselves to observe any other ordinance of the Lord 3 The Apostle Gal 6 6. injoyning that he which is taught communicate to him that teacheth ●…ad good things doth not leave it arbitrary what or how much a man shall give or in what prop●…on but even the later as well as the former is prescribed appointed by the Lord 4 Not only members of Churches but all that are taught in in the word are to contribute unto him that teacheth in all good things In case that Congregations are defective in their contributions the Deacons are to call upon them to doe their duty if their call sufficeth not the church by her powr is to require it of their members where church-powr through the corruption of men doth not or can̄ot attaine the end the Magistrate is to see ministry be duely provided for as appeares from the commended example of Nehemiah The Magistrates are nursing fathers nursing mothers stand charged with the custody of both Tables because it is better to prevent a scandal that it may not come easier also then to remove it when it is given It s most suitable to Rule that by the churches care each man should know his proportion according to rule what he should doe before he doe it that so his iudgment heart may be satisfied in what he doeth just offence prevented in what is done CHAP XII Of Admission of members into the Church THe doors of the Churches of Christ upon earth doe not by Gods appointment stand so wide open that all sorts of people good or bad may freely enter therein at their pleasure but such as are admitted therto as members ought to be examined tryed first whether they be fit meet to be received into church-society or not The Evnuch of Aethiopia before his admission was examined by Philip whether he did beleive on Jesus Christ with all his heart the Auged of the church at Ephesus is commended for trying such as said they were Apostles were not There is like reason for trying of them that profess themselves to be beleivers The officers are charged with the keeping of the doors of the Church therfore are in a special man̄er to make try all of the fitnes of such who enter Twelve Angels are set at the gates of the Tem ple lest such as were Ceremonially unclean should enter therinto 2 The things which are requisite to be found in all church members are Repentance from sin saith in Jesus Christ And therfore these are the things wherof men are to be examined at their admission into the church which then they must profess hold forth in such sort as may satisfie rationall charity that the things are there indeed Iohn Baptist admitted men to Baptism confessing bewayling their sinns of other it is said that they came confessed shewed their deeds 3 The weakest measure of faith is to be accepted in t●…ose that desire to be admitted into the church becaus weak christians if sincere have the substance of that faith repentance holiness which is required in church members such have most need of the ordinances for their confirmation growth in grace The Lord Jesus would not quench the smoaking flax nor breake the bruised reed but gather the tender lambes in his arms carry them gently in his bosome Such charity tenderness is to be used as the weakest christian if sincere may not be excluded nor discouraged Severity of examination is to be avoyded 4 In case any through excessive fear or other infirmity be unable to make their personal relation of their spirituall estate in publick it is sufficient that the Elders having received private satisfaction make relation therof in publick before the church they testifying their assents therunto this being the way that tendeth most to edification But

wheras persons are of better abilityes there it is most expedient that they make their relations confessions personally with their own mouth as David professeth of himselfe 5 A personall publick confession declaring of Gods manner of working upon the soul is both lawfull expedient usefull in sundry respects upon sundry grounds Those three thousands Acts. 2. 37. 41. Before they were admitted by the Apostles did manifest that they were pricked in their hearts at Peters sermon together with earnest desire to be delivered from their sinns which now wounded their consciences their ready receiving of the word of promise and exhortation Wee are to be ready to ●…der a reason of the hope that is in us to every one that asketh us th●…fore wee must be able and ready upon any occasion to declare shew our repentance for sinn faith unfamed effectuall calling because these are the reason of a well grounded hope I have not hidden thy righteousness from the great congregation Psal 40. 10. 6 This profession of faith repentance as it must be made by such at their admission that were never in Church-society before so nothing hindreth but the same way also be performed by such as have formerly been members of some other church the church to which they now joyn themselves as members may lawfully require the same Those three thousand Acts. 2. which made their confession were mēbers of the church of the Jewes before so were they that were baptised by John Churches may err in their admission persons regularly admitted may fall into offence Otherwise if Churches might obtrude their members or if church-members might obtrude themselves upon other churches without due tryall the matter so requiring both the liberty of churches would hereby be infringed in that they might not examine those concerning whose fitness for communion they were unsatisfied besides the infringing of their liberty the churches themselves would ūavoidably be corrupted the ordinances defiled whilst they might not refuse but must receive the unworthy which is contrary unto the Scripture teaching that all churches are sisters therfore equall 7 The like tryall is to be required from such members of the church as were born in the same or received their membership were baptized in their infancy or minority by vertue of the covenāt of their parents when being grown up unto yeares of discretion they shall desire to be made partakers of the Lords supper unto which because holy things must not be given unto the unworthy therfore it is requisit that these as well as others should come to their tryall examīation manifest their faith repentance by an open profession therof before they are received to the Lords supper otherwise not to be be admitted there unto Yet these Church-members that were so born or received in their childhood before they are capable of being made partakes of fall cōmunion have many priviledges which others not church-mēbers ha●…not they are in covenant with God have the seale therof upon th●… 〈◊〉 Baptisme so if not regenerated yet are in a more hopefull way of attayning regenerating grace all the spiritual blessings both of the covenāt seal they are also under C●…rch-watch consequently subject to the reprehensions ad non●…tions censures therof for their healing and amendment as need sh●…ll require CHAP XIII Of Church-members their removall from one Church to another of letters of recōmendation dismission CHurch-members may not remove or depart from the Church so one from another as they please nor without just weighty cause but ought to live dwell together for as much as they are cōmanded not to forsake the assembling of themselves together Such departure tends to the dissolution ruine of the body as the pulling of stones pe●…ces of timber from the building of members from the naturall body tend to the destruction of the whole 2 It is thērfore the duty of Church-members in such times places when counsell may be had to consult with the Church wherof they are mēmbers about their removall that accordingly they having their approbation may be incouraged or otherwise desist They who are joyned with consent should not depart without consent except forced therunto 3 If a members departure be manifestly unsafe and sinfull the church may not consent therunto for in so doing they should not act in saith should pertake with him in his sinn If the case be doubtfull the person not to be perswaded it seemeth best to leave the matter unto God not forcibly to detayn him 4 Just reasōs for a mēbers removall of himselfe from the church are I If a man cānot continue without partakig in sinn II In case of personall persecution so Paul departed from the desciples at Damascus Also in case of generall persecution when all are scattered III In case of real not only pretended want of competent subsistence a door being opened for better supply in another place together with the meanes of spirituall edification In these or like cases a member may lawfully remove the church cannot lawfully detayne him 5 To seperate from a Church eyther out of contempt of their holy fellowship or out of 〈◊〉 or for greater inlargements with just greife to the church or out of 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 out of a spirit of 〈◊〉 in respect of some unkindness or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 only concei●…ed or indeed in the Church which might should be tolèrated heared with a spirit of meekness of which evill the church is not yet cōvinced though perhaps himselfe bee nor admonished for these or like reasons to withdraw from publick cōmunion in word or seales or censures is unlawfull sinfull 6 Such members as have orderly removed their habitation ought to joyn themselves unto the church in order where they doe inhabit if it may bee otherwise they can neyther perform the dutyes nor receive the priviledges of members such an example tolerated in some is apt to corrupt others which if many should follow would threaten the dissolution confusion of churches contrary to the Scripture 7 Order requires that a member thus removing have letters testimonia●… of 〈◊〉 from the church wherof he yet is unto the church wherunto he desireth to be joyned lest the church sh●…uld be deluded that the church may receive him in faith not be corrupted by receiving deceivers false brethren Untill the person dismissed be received into another church he ceaseth ●…ot by his letters of dismission to be a member of the church wherof he was The church can̄ot make a member no member but by excōmunication 8 If a member be called to remove only for a time where a Church is letters of Recommendation are requisite sufficient for cōmunion with that church in the

ordinance in their watch as Phoebe a servāt of the church at Cenc●…ea had letters writtē for her to the church of Rome that shee might be received as becō●…eth saints 9 Such letters of Recommendation 〈◊〉 were written for Apollos For Marcus to the Col●…siā for Phoebe to the Romāe●… for sūdry others to other churches the Apostle telleth u●… that some persons not sufficiently known otherwise have special need of such letter●… though he for his part had no need therof The u●…e of them ●…s to be a benefit help to the party for whom they are writtē for the furthering of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 amongst the Saints in the pl●… whe●…to 〈◊〉 goeth the d●…e sat●…faction of them in their receiving of h●…m CHAP XIV Of excommunication other Censures THe Censures of the church are appointed by Christ for the prevent●…ng removing healing of offences in the Church for the reclayming gayning of offending brethren for the deterring of others from the like o●…eces for purging out the leaven which may infect the whole lump for vindicating the honour of Christ of his church the holy profession of the gospel for preventing of the wrath of God that may justly fall upon the church if they should suffer his covenant the s●…ales therof to be prophaned by notorious obstinate offenders 2 If an offence be priv●… one brother offending another the offender is to goe acknowledg his repentāce for it unto his offended brother who is then to forgive him but if the ●…ffender neglect or refu●…e to doe it the brother offēded is to goe cōvince admonish him of it between themselves privatly ●…f therupon the offender bee brought to repent of his offēce the admonisher hath won his brother but if the offender heare not his brother the brother offended is to take with him one or two more that in the mouth of two or three witneses every word may be established whether the word of admonition if the offender receive it or the word of complaint if he refuse it for if hè refuse it the offēded brother is by the mouth of the Elders to tell the church if he heare the church declare the same by pe●…tēt confession he is recovered gayned if the church discern him to be willing to hear yet not fully cōv●…ced of his offence as in case ●…f heresy They are to dispēce to him a publick admonition which declaring the offēder to ly under the publ●…ck offence of the church doth t●…e by with-hold or suspend him from the holy fellowsh●…p of the Lords s●…pper till his offence be removed by penitent cōfession If he ●…ll 〈◊〉 obstinate they are to call him out by excōn unic●…tion 3 But if the offēce be more 〈◊〉 at first of a more ●…ous 〈◊〉 to wit such as are condē●…ed by the light of nature then the church w●…thout such graduall proceeding is to cast out the offender from ther●… holy cōmunior for the further mortifying of his 〈◊〉 the healing of his soule in the day of the Lord Jesus 4 In dealing with an offēder great care is to be takē that wee be neither overstrict or rigorous nor too indulgent or remiss our proceeding here●… ou●…ht to be with a spirit of ●…ekness considering our selves l●…st wee also be tēpted that the best of us have need of much forg 〈◊〉 from the Lord Yet the winīg healīg of the offēders soul being the end of the●…e ēdeavours wee must not daub with ūtempered morter nor heal the wounds of our brethren sleightly on some have comp●…ō others save with fear 5 While the offender remayns excōmunicate the Church is to refrayn from all member-like communion with him in spirituall things also from all familiar cōmuniō with him in civil things farther then the necessity of natural or domestical or civil relatiōs doe require are therfore to for bear to eat drike with him that he may be 〈◊〉 6 Excōmunication being a spirituall punishment it doth not prejudice the excōmunicate in nor deprive him of his civil rights therfore toucheth not princes or other magistrates in point of their civil dignity or authority And the excōmunicate being but as a publican a heathen heathens being lawfully permitted to come to hear the word in church assemblyes wee acknowledg therfore the like liberty of hearing the word may be permitted to persons excommunicate that is permitted unto heathen And because wee are not without hope of his recovery wee are not to account him as an enemy but to admonish him as a brother 7 If the Lord sanctifie the censure to the offender so as by the grace of Christ he doth testifie his repentance with humble cōfession of his sinn judging of himselfe giving glory unto God the Church is then to forgive him to comfort him to restore him to the wonted brotherly communion which formerly he injoyed with them 8 The suffring of prophane or scandalous livers to continue in fellowship partake in the sacraments is doubtless a great sinn in those that have power in their hands to redress it doe it not Nevertheless inasmuch as Christ his Apostles in their times the Prophets other godly in theirs did lawfully partake of the Lords commanded ordinances in the Jewish church neyther taught nor practised seperation from the same though unworthy ones were permitted therin inasmuch as the faithfull in the church of Corinth wherin were many unworthy persons practises are never commanded to absent themselves from the Sacramēts because of the same therfore the godly in like cases are not presently to seperate 9 As seperation from such a Church wherin pr●…phāe scandalous livers are tolerated is not presently necessary so for the members therof otherwise worthy hereupon to absta●…n from communicating with such a church in the participation of the Sacraments is unlawfull For as it were unreasonable for an in̄ocent person to be punished for the faults of other wherin he hath no hand wherunto he gave no consent soe is it more unreasonable that a godly man should neglect duty punish himselfe in not cōming for his portion in the blessing of the seales as he ought because others are suffered to come that ought not especially considering that himselfe doth neyther consent to their sinn nor to their approching to the ordinance in their sinn nor to the neglect of others who should put them away doe not but on the contrary doth heartily mourn for these things modestly seasonably stirr up others to doe their duty If the Church c●…nnot be reformed they may use their liberty as is specified chap 13. sect 4. But this all the godly are bound unto even every one to do his indeavour according to his powr